Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-12

In the engine IOoiu noocbIo WAS EcqulIcu W
wheel coal and use tools, and yet there
was NO complaint. The use of a
needle in buck-stitching might
possibly be more severe than
working with the whole hand, but the
latter would be apt to require more use OF
the muscles OF the member. Witness was
generally accused OF being too lenient with
the prisoners Witness was not in favor
OF the ''shOo fly" he thought it WAS hard
treatment, might say it was cruel if applied
in n severe way. He had seen cOnyicts
who were not hurt, and Others who were.
Confined in a cell on bread and water for
fifteen DAYS would be endorsed by the
witness a punishment A convict could
take exercise in his cell if he
wanted to. There was not
sufficient ventilation in the cells. There
was great trouble in keeping the prison at
a uniform temperature. Witness knew OF
no instance in which contractors endeav-
ored 10 get more work out of a convict
than be could do. He knew of no DISPOSE
ton of that kind among the contractors.
They were fair average citizens.
Fawcett was a delicate man; severe,
well-laid on w~hippings would have little
physical effect. Witness did not see Faw-
cett's hack while he was iii with fever.
The number of deaths has been less since
June -. the date of the abolition of the
lash, than before. There had been no
deaths since October. The witness could
not say hat the per cent. of deaths was
heavier under Peck than under West, or
that it was increasing.
This ended the morning testimony and
the committee, after making a tour of the
shops and seeing the convictS 90 10 dinner,
to q recess until / p. M.
In the afternoon Mr.. V. 4. Weaver was
sworn. He was q contractor at the prison
up to January lst. He detailed the tasks
assigned to prisoners, the same having
been printed in the REGISTER. No con-
Wet had to work who had been excused,
and no report for short work was made IN
less warranted by the facts. On the con-
trarv, dozens of cases of short work were
never reported. \ convict could not be
reported for short work twice IN the same
day. Could report work bad twice IN one
day. Witness never knew or heard Of any
inhumanity OF cruelty to prisoners. All
the punishnentS witness ever heard oil
were necessary, and did not arise from
cruelty.
W. +. Umphrey, the broom contractor,
was the next witness. lie knew OF no con
Wet being required 10 work when Ill.
| Witness frequently paid convicts for over
time. He never heard of acts OF cruelty
-. r -ax,@anAaN pasl- He
believed Mr.. Peck was both kind and firm
two of the requisites necessary to make
a good Superintendent. But witness knew
of Il man who had been punished unJustly.
1t was while Col. Peck was away. \ con-
Wet named Dean was the man. He was
reported TO a guard named johnson. Will
kinsOn, who was in charge Of the prison,
put him on bread and water for Oheylng
| orders of witness. After the strap had
been abolished, Wilkinson told witness
he'd he Cd d-n if he didn't apply To
have the strap restored, and if it was not
done he would resign. Witness thought that
was queer language for a subordinate officer.
Witness thought there was a conspiracy
between Wilkinson and Others to ouSt
Supt. Peck. Witness could not get a man
punished while Supt. Peck was away,
while conyicts IN other shops were prompt
ly punished on being reported. Witness
had no i'll feeling toward Wilkinson. The
witness detailed the method OF reporting
the cOnvicts for infractiOns OF the rules.
and said ten ~cunvicts were excused for one
reported. Witness said he never saw Col.
Peck under the influence OF liquor. lie
supposed he was with the Superintendent
more than any man in Monndsville, but
be never knew him To gamble. The con-
victs in his shop did not do more than two
thirds the amount of work done by men
outside. The witness read a tabu-
lated statement OF the tasks re-
quired in the Elmira, y. y, prison
As compared with Moundsville, showing q
difference of IL 10 40 per cent. less work
per day for MOundSyille. Witness saw a
convict named Jones put in the shOO-tiy
and held there by McCaltcc and another
Tor % or - minutes. That was the time
Superintendent Bridges WAS wing up stairs
drunk, and Mr.. Blown was in charge.
The man was taken out of the shortly at
the instance of witness, and his pulse was
almost gone, Is the doctor and others as
certained. Capt. McCallee was the man
who swOre he never saw but one man shoe
flied, and that was under Supt. Peck.
c. 4. Weaver, 4 contractor, was put on
the stand, and testified that Superintend-
ent Peek was humane and kind IN his
treatment of cOnyiGtS. Witness never knew
of superintendent Peck turning over the
control of the prison to contractors. The
witness read his contract with the Direc-
tors, showing that good discipline was re-
quired. The witness produced his time
book and showed that Roberts could do
his task whenever he wanted To, and that
the day after he waS 50 badly whipped he
did 9S feet of buck stitching.
Witness said Col. Peck was
the best disciplinarian he ever saw. Dis
cipline, however, was very lax at present.
Witness wouldn't want TO stay in the
prison if discipline should get worse.
Discipline was lax now, the witness ex-
planned. because the Directors had tied the
Superintendent hands with a set OF rules
under which no prison could be run. Some
of the guards acted i'll n very independent
manner. Mr.. Peck would not knowingly
i'll treat a convict. Witness had seen a
good many prison wardens and never knew
one to take 50 deep III interest in the priS-
oneTs.
The witness on cross examination
thought the shOo-hy was injurious, and
also the bull ring; but he thought the lash
did no harm and should be restored. An
attempt was made by the prosecution 70
show the bad discipline was entirely owing
to the failure of the Superintendent to en-
force the new rules of the Board, hut the
witness had no knowledge of the matter.
J. c. Bardal. the whip contractor, was
the next witness. There WIS no discipline
before the arrival OF Col. Peck. After he
got control the discipline was good up to
the enactment OF the neV rules e never
knew of punishment Ii OF revenge, OF any
that was cruel OF inhuman. He had never
heard screams of Convicts being punished.
Witness never saw a card in Col. Peck's
hand. neither did he ever see him take 4
drink.
Mr.. UmphreyS was recalled, and said the
Conspiracy against Col. Peck began with
latter'S absence in Logan county, when
Col. Wilkinson Was lett in charge.
Dennis Smallwood, a convict, wa
sworn. He said he had been bull-ringed, and
showed his hands. There was a knot,
10000 - oo,-araJ Nth a e.ab tba afEa.t